palpable
American
adjective
-
(usually prenominal) easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obvious
the excuse was a palpable lie
-
capable of being touched; tangible
-
med capable of being discerned by the sense of touch
a palpable tumour
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of palpable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin palpābilis “touchable,” from palpā(re) “to stroke, touch” ( see palpate 1) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
When something is palpable, you can touch or handle it, even though the word is often used to describe things that usually can't be handled or touched, such as emotions or sensations. You probably won't see palpable used to describe, say, an egg or a doorknob or a motorcycle. Palpable is usually reserved for situations in which something invisible becomes so intense that it feels as though it has substance or weight. Someone who has experienced a death in the family might say that her grief feels palpable.
Vocabulary lists containing palpable
The Giver
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Power Suffix: -able
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Grade 10, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Polling stations were packed, and enthusiasm was palpable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
But the possibility of larger economic costs are become more palpable.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Students and staff at the Ivy League university spoke to the BBC, some on condition of anonymity, saying the tension on campus had become palpable since the 2024 case resurfaced in recent weeks.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
But it’s their palpable trust in one another that’s staggering.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
The tension was palpable; Thomas felt like the air in the room had become glass that could shatter at any second.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
